CHESTER — The predicament for the Philadelphia Union is frighteningly similar.

For a second straight week, they play on a nationally-televised date with a team in the top three of its conference.

But the equation for today’s visit (5 p.m., NBCSN) from FC Dallas is different in a few key elements.

For one, the Union (7-5-4, 25 points) have to contend with a team that they’re not used to, this being their only meeting with Dallas this season.

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The flipside is that they’ll have a chance to significantly build on the respect they earned a week ago by downing New York, then second in the Eastern Conference, when they tangle with the third-placed team in the West.

It’s the third straight home game for the Union, who have posted matching 3-0 wins over Columbus and the Red Bulls the last two times out. That doesn’t mean they can afford to get complacent with one of the top teams in the West coming to town.

“We understand that we can’t really take any breaks or feel too good about ourselves because we just need everybody to be focused all the time and continuing to play well,” Union captain Brian Carroll said Wednesday. “We can’t afford to take breaks or think too highly about ourselves because we just don’t have that luxury. We understand how good Dallas is and how much better we need to play even than against New York to get a result against them. I think everybody is still grounded and just focusing on what they need to do to improve to get ready to have a good performance against Dallas.”

It’s been a bit of a struggle lately for Dallas (8-3-5, 29 points), a team that led the Western Conference through most of the season’s first couple of months. They’ve won just one of their last five games, though a 2-2 draw against Sporting Kansas City last weekend when they were down two goals after 87 minutes probably feels like a win.

Dallas is also in a unique position given that it played Wednesday night in the U.S. Open Cup, an entertaining 3-2 loss to the Portland Timbers in which they used a full-strength lineup.

According to head coach John Hackworth, playing a team that is facing a bevy of games in a short time isn’t necessarily the advantage it seems to be.

“Sometimes when you play those games in quick succession, they can actually get you in a little bit of rhythm, and other times, it can be a distraction especially with the travel,” Hackworth said. “I hope it’s the latter for them. I hope they come in fatigued. But our expectation is that we’re going to play one of the best teams in the league Saturday. We’re certainly going to give their best. They’re a team that has been very tough to play against every single time out, and I expect a little bit of the same Saturday.”

One of the players who did not start Wednesday but figures to play a role today is Kenny Cooper. The 28-year-old American striker has had the Union’s number, scoring five times in three matches against the Union last year when he was a member of the New York Red Bulls.

Dallas has a bevy of other options — Panamanian Blas Perez has scored five times this year, and they have playmakers like Jackson, Fabian Castillo and 2010 league MVP David Ferreira to contend with. But Cooper is one that requires extra attention.

“I think he’s been a player against this club in particular that has been really tough to contain, so we will definitely have to do a good job again Kenny,” Hackworth said. “When they’re able to put both Kenny and Blas on the field at the same time, it gives you a little bit of a two-headed monster. They haven’t really gone that way much, but it is something we’re preparing for.”

As for the Union, they’re facing what could be the last match in over a month for Jack McInerney, who was called up to represent the U.S. men’s national team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The Union also must prepare for some shuffling in the midfield, with Keon Daniel gone to represent Trinidad and Tobago in the Gold Cup and Michael Lahoud, Kleberson and Danny Cruz all facing races for fitness.